Can top lock

ABSTRACT

A can top lock for garbage cans and the like to prevent the top from coming off the can if upset, and which additionally functions as a top handle. Springs are removably attachable to the top handle and engageable with side handles on the can to hold the top on the can under tension, with the springs being disengaged from the top handle upon lifting of the handle and top to which attached.

United States Patent 1191 McGlothlin.

[ June 18, 1974 CAN TOP LOCK [76] Inventor: Charles J. McGlothlin, Rt. 1, Box 198, Madison Heights, Va. 24572 22 Filed: July 6, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 377,156

[52] U.S. Cl. 292/254, 220/1 T, 220/24 GC, 220/55 H, 220/55.7, 292/259 [51 Int. Cl. E05c 9/00 [58] Field of Search 292/254, 258, 259, 288; 220/l T, 24 GC, 55.7, 55 H, 55 K [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,717,167 9/1955 Worth 220/55.7 X

7/l964 Griffith et al. 292/259 X 7/1972 Vekony 292/258 Primary ExaminerRichard E. Moore [5 7] ABSTRACT A can top lock for garbage cans and the like to prevent the top from coming off the can if upset, and which additionally functions as a top handle. Springs are removably attachable to the top handle and engageable'with side handles on the can to hold the top on the can under tension, with the springs being disengaged from the top handle upon lifting of the handle and top to which attached.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures CAN TOP LOCK 7 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A need exists for apparatus which will insure that garbage can. tops will: remain in place on the can when upset. While can top locks have heretofore been devised, they have been cumbersome and difficult of attachment and disattachment. Preferably such locking devices should be capable of easy operational attachment and substantially automatic disengagement upon lifting of the can top for easy insertion and removal of contents from the can.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a can top lock for garbage cans and the like which includes a base attachable to a. garbage can top with the base mounting thereon two pins adapted for engagement with the ends of springs, the other ends of which are attachable to the normal side handles of the can. A T-shaped handle having a baseplate with openings slidably engageable over the pins is slidably mounted on a central stud on the baseplate and is springbiased to a lowered position. In operation, upon liftingof the handle, the plate attached thereto will disengage the springs from the pins to thereby permit removal of the lid. The device when mounted will prevent the lid coming off if the can is upset.

Additional objects and features of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof when taken together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the handle portion of the apparatus.

Referring in greater detail to the drawings, there is shown a can body 10 which can be a garbage, trash or other type of receptacle which normally have thereon side handles such as at 12 to permit carrying of the can. A can top 14 is engageable in a usual manner over the top opening of the can body.

In normal practice, can tops such as at 14 have fixed handles thereon to permit removal or placement of the can top. The present invention preferably replaces such normal handles. This structure includes a baseplate 16 which can be of any desired shape but as shown is circular and has a plurality of holes therethrough for attachment to can top 14 by means of screws or bolts 18. The baseplate has mounted thereon two pins 20 which in the illustrated embodiment have collars 22 engageable on the top of the can top with the base of the pins at 24 being flanged in the nature of rivets or the like. Acentral raised boss 26 is provided in baseplate l6 and has a central threaded opening 28 therethrough. A T- shaped handle indicated at 30 includes a sleeve 32 attached at its base to a plate 34.

A centrally bored post 36 engages at its bottom on the top of boss 26 and a screw or bolt 38 extends through the bore with the top of the bolt 40 engaging a washer 42 surmounting post 36. The bolt 38 screw threadedly engages in central threaded opening 28.

The exterior of post 36 is spaced from the interior of sleeve 32., The space shown at 44 mounts therein a compression spring 46 which engages at its lower extremity with the upper surface of base 34 and a short sleeve 48 engages between the top of spring 46 and the under surface of washer 42.

Threaded openings 50 are provided proximate the outer ends of base 34 through which extend bored threaded bolts 52with nuts 54 additionally securing the bolts 52 in the shown position. The bores 56 in bolts 52 are slidably engaged over pins 20.

A 'cross handle 58 forming the top of the T as shown includes a bolt 60 extending through openings in sleeve 32. Opposed bored sleeves 62 slidably engage over bolt 60 and have threaded outer end portions on which are removably engaged nuts 64. The inner ends of sleeve portion 62 preferably terminate in cylindrically curved portions for mating engagement with the exterior of sleeve 32. When assembled as shown in FIG. 1, bolt 60 prevents removal of bolt 38.

Tension springs 66 are engaged by means of hooks 68 to handles 12 of the can. The opposite ends of springs 66 have the normal hook shaped ends 70 engaged over pins 20 when top 14 is operably associated with the can. This is the can top locking position with the springs 66 being shown in full lines.

When it is desired to remove the can top 14, the handle 30 is grasped and lifted by means of sleeve portions 62. When this occurs, sleeve 32 and base 34 will move upward away from baseplate 16 by compressing spring 46 and bolts 52 will slide upward on pins 20. This will serve to disengage ends 70 of springs 66 from pins 20 thereby effecting an unlocking of the can top and fur ther lifting of the can top is possible. Replacement of the can top and locking is effected by engaging the top on the can and subsequently engaging ends 70 on pins Manifestly, changes in details of construction can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in and limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim: 7

1. A can top lock for cans comprising:

A. upstanding pins mounted on said can top;

B. a handle having a base with openings therethrough slidably engaged on said pins;

C. a compression spring operatively interconnecting said handle and said pins and biasing said base toward said top; and

D. tension springs having one end thereof attached to the can body and the opposite end thereof slidably and removably engaged on said pins, said opposite spring ends being disengaged from said pins upon lifting of said handle against the action of said compression spring for removal of said top from said can.

2. A can top lock for cans comprising;

A. a baseplate attached to said can top;

B. a post attached to said baseplate and extending therefrom;

C. a handle sleeve movably engaged over said post and forming therebetween a space;

D. a compression spring in said space biasing said sleeve toward said baseplate;

E. a sleeve base on said sleeve having openings therethrough;

F. upstanding pins on said baseplate slidably engageable in said sleeve base openings; and

G. tension springs connected at one end thereof with the can body and the opposite ends being slidably and removably engaged on said pins above said sleeve base, whereby, upon lifting of said handle sleeve, said sleeve and sleeve base will lift from said baseplate and disengage said spring ends from said pins permitting removal of the can top.

3. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 2, said baseplate having a central screw threaded opening therethrough, said handle post having a central bore, a screw extending through said central bore and engaged in said baseplate for operative interconnection of said post and said baseplate.

4. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 3, including a washer above said post extending over the space formed between said post and said sleeve, a short sleeve in said space beneath said washer and engageable with the top of said compression spring for containedly mounting said spring in said space.

5. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 4, said base on said sleeve having threaded openings therethrough, bored bolts screw threadedly engaged in said openings and nuts securing said bored bolts to said sleeve base, said pins being attached to said baseplate and extending through the bore of said bored bolts.

6. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 5, said one ends of said tension springs having hooks thereon engaged with handles on said can body, said opposite ends being provided with books engaged over said pins, said springs when interengaged between said handles and said pins engaging over said can top and resiliently engaging said top with said can body to prevent disengagement thereof.

7. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 6, including a cross handle operatively engaged with the upper end of said handle sleeve to facilitate lifting of said sleeve and said can top for disengagement of said springs from said pins and handling of said can top.

8. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cross handle includes a bolt extending through said sleeve and sleeve portions removably mounted on said bolt on opposite sides of said sleeve. 

1. A can top lock for cans comprising: A. upstanding pins mounted on said can top; B. a handle having a base with openings therethrough slidably engaged on said pins; C. a compression spring operatively interconnecting said handle and said pins and biasing said base toward said top; and D. tension springs having one end thereof attached to the can body and the opposite end thereof slidably and removably engaged on said pins, said opposite spring ends being disengaged from said pins upon lifting of said handle against the action of said compression spring for removal of said top from said can.
 2. A can top lock for cans comprising: A. a baseplate attached to said can top; B. a post attached to said baseplate and extending therefrom; C. a handle sleeve movably engaged over said post and forming therebetween a space; D. a compression spring in said space biasing said sleeve toward said baseplate; E. a sleeve base on said sleeve having openings therethrough; F. upstanding pins on said baseplate slidably engageable in said sleeve base openings; and G. tension springs connected at one end thereof with the can body and the opposite ends being slidably and removably engaged on said pins above said sleeve base, whereby, upon lifting of said handle sleeve, said sleeve and sleeve base will lift from said baseplate and disengage said spring ends from said pins permitting removal of the can top.
 3. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 2, said baseplate having a central screw threaded opening therethrough, said handle post having a central bore, a screw extending through said central bore and engaged in said baseplate for operative interconnection of said post and said baseplate.
 4. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 3, including a washer above said post extending over the space formed between said post and said sleeve, a short sleeve in said space beneath said washer and engageable with the top of said compression spring for containedly mounting said spring in said space.
 5. A can top lock fOr cans as claimed in claim 4, said base on said sleeve having threaded openings therethrough, bored bolts screw threadedly engaged in said openings and nuts securing said bored bolts to said sleeve base, said pins being attached to said baseplate and extending through the bore of said bored bolts.
 6. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 5, said one ends of said tension springs having hooks thereon engaged with handles on said can body, said opposite ends being provided with hooks engaged over said pins, said springs when interengaged between said handles and said pins engaging over said can top and resiliently engaging said top with said can body to prevent disengagement thereof.
 7. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 6, including a cross handle operatively engaged with the upper end of said handle sleeve to facilitate lifting of said sleeve and said can top for disengagement of said springs from said pins and handling of said can top.
 8. A can top lock for cans as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cross handle includes a bolt extending through said sleeve and sleeve portions removably mounted on said bolt on opposite sides of said sleeve. 